Waiata Maori Music Magazine launched

Waiata Maori Music Magazine launched

PRESS RELEASE – Takitimu Trust launches new publication
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A few of the big stars in Maori music came out to shine in Hastings on May 31 to support a new initiative which aims to tell the stories of Maori singers, song writers and performers working around the world.

They helped launch the inaugural Waiata Maori Music magazine which was published by the Takitimu Trust headed by Tama Huata. The trust produces the National Waiata Maori Music Awards held in Hawke’s Bay every year and Mr Huata is the executive director of that event.

The stars at the launch included singers Maisey Rika, a four-time winner at the 2010 Waiata Maori Music Awards and Waiata Maori Music Awards ambassador Taisha Tari.

Fresh form a recording stint in the US, rapper Young Sid also made an appearance, along with guitarist Jay Rika, and singer/songwriter Ruia Aperahama.

The group arrived in Hawke’s Bay on Monday and had been presenting workshops to high school students, sharing their experiences with young musicians before performing at the launch last night.

They also wrote a song together and recorded a demo version at Radio Kahungunu in Hastings and the waiata is to be released later this year.

Northland reggae band 1814, in Hawke’s Bay to perform at the Third World concert in Napier on Wednesday night, also made an appearance at the launch as the band features in the first issue of the magazine.

The magazine also reveals who will be performing at this year’s awards in September and the line up includes Young Sid, Moana Jackson, Anika Moa and Ardijah to name a few.

The nominated Maori Music Industry Award winners were also revealed in the magazine, theses awards are nominated, not judged, and recognise the significant contribution people have made to Maori music.

This year the list includes composer Sir Kingi Ihaka; co-founder of the Maori Volcanics, Mahora Peters; “polyfonk” pioneers Ardijah and entertainer Frankie Stevens.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana led the dedication karakia for the magazine when it was launched at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings last night.
The magazine is a free, bi-annual publication and will be distributed via music shops around the country as well as in sites in Australia and the Pacific.

The first issue covers this year’s Waiata Maori Awards to be held in September and also the international Takitimu Festival, which will also be produced by the Takitimu Trust. Both events will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings.

The next issue of the magazine will be published in October, 2011, following the Waiata Maori Music Awards and the Takitimu Festival.

Waiata Maori Awards website: www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz
Takitimu Festival website: www.takitimufestival.co.nz

Media resource website: http://web.me.com/lawrence_gullery/mediacentre/Haere_Mai.html

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